SWOT-SWATI: South Western Atlantic Tropical fine scales Impacts: Studying Fine-Scale Oceanic Features and Biogeochemical Impacts

Principle Investigator: Fabrice Hernandez (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) / LEGOS)

Co-Investigator(s): Camila Artana, Ariane Koch-Larrouy

Collaborator(s): Alex Costa, Marcus Silva, Moacyr Araujo, Vincent Ventrepotte, Pedro Melo, Ramilla Vieira, Léa Poli

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The SWOT-SWATI project aims to advance our comprehension of the South Western Tropical Atlantic circulation across a wide spectrum of scales, leveraging the capabilities of SWOT to gain insights into the intricate dynamics in this area and their consequential impacts on biogeochemistry. By extending the observability of conventional satellite altimetry, SWOT increases the mapping resolution in this intense circulation western boundary region, and key area for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. It allows to revisit target processes spanning from large to sub-mesoscale, including coastal trapped waves, mesoscale-induced instabilities, and tidal-generated internal waves, that remain poorly understood along the south American continental shelf. Thanks to opportunistic sea campaign, in addition to existing modelled of observed estimates from the CMEMS of this local dynamics, SWOT data will be evaluated as a continuation of the former SWOT-ST SWOT-Brésil project Cal/Val initiative. Fine scales associated with south Atlantic Marine Heat Wave will also be studied.